▪ I. play play 1 [pleɪ] verb [transitive]
1. play the market( s) FINANCE if you play the market, you buy and sell shares on the stockmarket, especially to make a quick profit rather than as an investment for the future:
• Unless you can afford to lose money occasionally, it's foolish to play the market in later life.
2. play the system to use the rules of a system in a clever way in order to gain an advantage:
• These accountants know how to play the tax system.
3. have money to play with to have extra money which you can use for a particular purpose:
• If you do get a severance check (= money you get from your employer when you lose your job ) and land a job immediately, you'll have some extra money to play with.
[m0] ▪ II. play play 2 noun [countable]
• In stock options, the biggest play of the day was in BP.
• The company has strongly denied it's in play.
* * *
Ⅰ.
play UK US /pleɪ/ verb
→ See also PLUG-AND-PLAY™(Cf. ↑plug-and-play™) adjective, PLAY STH BACK(Cf. ↑play sth back), PLAY STH DOWN(Cf. ↑play sth down), PLAY OUT(Cf. ↑play out), PLAY STH UP(Cf. ↑play sth up)
Ⅱ.
play UK US /pleɪ/ noun
► [C] FINANCE the act of trading shares, bonds, etc.: »
Institutional investors remained on the sidelines, refusing to make any big plays until a definite announcement is made.
Financial and business terms. 2012.